Leave Specialist

Organizational Information

At Pearson, we’re committed to a world that’s always learning and to our talented team who makes it all possible. We are bold thinkers and standout innovators who push the boundaries of technology. We create seeds of learning that become the catalyst for the world’s innovations. Within the Pearson Virtual Schools (PVS) division we have reimagined K-12 education through our virtual school and curriculum offerings. Our schools, Connections Academy and Pearson Online Academy, provide a best-in-class online learning environment for K-12 students to acquire the skills and confidence they need to adapt and thrive in a changing world. We also support school districts with curriculum, teachers, and technology as they make the shift to online. The COVID-19 pandemic introduced significant disruption and transformation to the K-12 learning market. And as a result, our category has seen explosive growth and our business has experienced enormous increases in awareness and enrollments. This presents an incredible opportunity for our team to chart a ground-breaking path through this shifting environment to achieve continued success.

Purpose Summary

The Leave Specialist supports school staff with the review, approval, and processing of all leave of absence and accommodation requests.

Core Tasks and Responsibilities

• Manage Leaves of Absence for all school staff, including FMLA, short-term disability, long-term disability, military leave, and unpaid leave.
• Conduct intake meetings, as needed, advising staff of process and benefits available, manage all aspects of the leave and employee return to work and manage stakeholder communications.
• Interprets and administers leave programs and policies in accordance with the applicable federal and state employment laws (FMLA, ADA, USERRA, Pregnancy Discrimination Act, etc.).
• Manage accommodation request process including approval decisions and communications.
• Work with staff member to determine impact of accommodation to position, determine solutions that meet the needs of the employee and school, working with school managers to ensure proper accommodations are in place, securing necessary equipment for accommodations, and assisting employee with return-to-work functions.
• Manages all aspects of payroll processing, including preparing reports to track and enter all leave hours used/taken in time and attendance system for all Continuous and Intermittent FMLA and Disability leaves.
• Monitor benefit premium payments for employees on unpaid leave for premium collection activities and correspondence.
• Educate employees and managers on the LOA, Worker's Compensation and/or ADA interactive process and act as a primary contact to the employee and manager.
• Manage the relationship with the disability claims vendor and ensure all communications are effective and timely.
• Monitor claims status and perform necessary follow-up with the firm’s third-party leave administrator for disability, parental and family leaves.
• Work collaboratively with vendor to understand state leave plans and potential coordination with Connections plans.

Required Skills, Experience, and Competencies

• 5 years of Benefits experience
• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both orally and in writing
• Ability to handle multiple tasks simultaneously and to prioritize, thriving in a fast-paced, collaborative environment
• Demonstrated ability to show compassion and support to a staff member in their time of need

Key relationships

• Works closely with Benefits Specialist, Partner Team, Payroll Team, School Stakeholders, PPS Team
• Maintains effective relationships with external vendors and partners

Compensation at Pearson is influenced by a wide array of factors including but not limited to skill set, level of experience, and specific location. As required by the Colorado, California, Washington State, and New York City laws, the pay range for this position is as follows:

The minimum full-time salary range is between $55,000 - $60,000

This position is eligible to participate in an annual incentive program, and information on benefits offered is here _._

What to expect from Pearson

Did you know Pearson is one of the 10 most innovative education companies of 2022?

At Pearson, we add life to a lifetime of learning so everyone can realize the life they imagine. We do this by creating vibrant and enriching learning experiences designed for real-life impact. We are on a journey to be 100 percent digital to meet the changing needs of the global population by developing a new strategy with ambitious targets. To deliver on our strategic vision, we have five business divisions that are the foundation for the long-term growth of the company: Assessment & Qualifications, Virtual Learning, English Language Learning, Workforce Skills and Higher Education. Alongside these, we have our corporate divisions: Digital & Technology, Finance, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications, Human Resources, Legal, Strategy and Direct to Consumer. Learn more at We are Pearson.

We value the power of an inclusive culture and also a strong sense of belonging. We promote a culture where differences are embraced, opportunities are accessible, consideration and respect are the norm and all individuals are supported in reaching their full potential. Through our talent, we believe that diversity, equity and inclusion make us a more innovative and vibrant place to work. People are at the center, and we are committed to building a workplace where talent can learn, grow and thrive.

Pearson is an Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity Employer and a member of E-Verify. We want a team that represents a variety of backgrounds, perspectives and skills. The more inclusive we are, the better our work will be. All employment decisions are based on qualifications, merit and business need. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ethnicity, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, national origin, protected veteran status, disability status or any other group protected by law. We strive for a workforce that reflects the diversity of our communities.

To learn more about Pearson’s commitment to a diverse and inclusive workforce, navigate to: Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Pearson.

If you are an individual with a disability and are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our career site as a result of your disability, you may request reasonable accommodations by emailing ppsmhr@pearson.com.

Note that the information you provide will stay confidential and will be stored securely. It will not be seen by those involved in making decisions as part of the recruitment process.

Job: HUMAN RESOURCES

Organization: Virtual Learning

Schedule: FULL\_TIME

Req ID: 11489

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